Work starts on community playground

Waikirikiri Park heard the sounds of power tools this week as work began on the new playground installation. The playground was planned and designed through an extensive community consultation project. Project manager Charlie Hoyle of Playground Creations gets on with removing outdated equipment. Picture by Liam Clayton

After months of planning and consultation with the Kaiti community, the first steps have been taken on the new playground for Waikirikiri Park.

Playground Creations have been contracted to complete the playground and this week started work to remove the existing see-saw and swing, which will be refurbished and integrated back into the new design.

Remaining equipment will stay in place until construction of the new playground starts in October.

The project is expected to be completed at a total cost of $150,000.

The final design was decided after a six-month consultation process which, to get first-hand feedback, involved an online survey, ‘‘dream playground’’ exercises in schools and a consultation event.

Three final ideas were given to prospective designers and the chosen designer submitted three possible designs for the new playground.

Gisborne District Council contracts and assets manager Garrett Blair said it had been a successful community engagement process in collaboration with Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti.

“We visited schools, events, completed online surveys and used social media to engage with the community, and worked closely with Ka Pai Kaiti on this.

“The community said they wanted the design of the playground to reflect the cultural, historical and social significance of the overall park.

“Three options for the playground design were presented to the commiunity and the preferred option will be built in October.

“The next step is to consult on the artwork and story-telling components of the playground.”

Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti (SGT) young persons adviser Quentin Harvey said the emphasis was on community collaboration.

“We visited local schools and sporting events, delivered an online survey that saw almost 500 submissions, and ran local events to ensure direct input and feedback at every stage of the process.”

Information was collated and key themes presented in a “community insight” report, which was given to prospective designers as part of the council’s request for proposals.

Mr Blair said future projects would be approached in a similar way.

“The council has been working closely with communities on the East Coast to develop concept designs for new playgrounds in Ruatoria, Te Araroa and Hicks Bay.

“We will present these concepts to funding agencies, seeking a budget to implement them.”

After months of planning and consultation with the Kaiti community, the first steps have been taken on the new playground for Waikirikiri Park.

Playground Creations have been contracted to complete the playground and this week started work to remove the existing see-saw and swing, which will be refurbished and integrated back into the new design.

Remaining equipment will stay in place until construction of the new playground starts in October.

The project is expected to be completed at a total cost of $150,000.

The final design was decided after a six-month consultation process which, to get first-hand feedback, involved an online survey, ‘‘dream playground’’ exercises in schools and a consultation event.

Three final ideas were given to prospective designers and the chosen designer submitted three possible designs for the new playground.

Gisborne District Council contracts and assets manager Garrett Blair said it had been a successful community engagement process in collaboration with Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti.

“We visited schools, events, completed online surveys and used social media to engage with the community, and worked closely with Ka Pai Kaiti on this.

“The community said they wanted the design of the playground to reflect the cultural, historical and social significance of the overall park.

“Three options for the playground design were presented to the commiunity and the preferred option will be built in October.

“The next step is to consult on the artwork and story-telling components of the playground.”

Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti (SGT) young persons adviser Quentin Harvey said the emphasis was on community collaboration.

“We visited local schools and sporting events, delivered an online survey that saw almost 500 submissions, and ran local events to ensure direct input and feedback at every stage of the process.”

Information was collated and key themes presented in a “community insight” report, which was given to prospective designers as part of the council’s request for proposals.

Mr Blair said future projects would be approached in a similar way.

“The council has been working closely with communities on the East Coast to develop concept designs for new playgrounds in Ruatoria, Te Araroa and Hicks Bay.

“We will present these concepts to funding agencies, seeking a budget to implement them.”